INTRODUCTION.

WHEN an author has been successful in gaining the attention of the public, that public have not only evinced an anxiety to derive instruction from whatever his pen has furnished, but to ascertain what may be known of his personal history, habits, and character. On this account it may be desirable that a few facts should be stated in connexion with a writer who has met with high acceptance from the Christian community of the United States, before whom a new volume of his works is now placed ;a volume, in its collected form, as yet unknown in Great Britain. The writer of this sketch having long enjoyed an intimate friendship with Dr. Harris, and been connected with him in matters both personally and relatively important, professes an acquaintance with his subject, and rejoices that he has a task in the performance of which he is exposed to but little danger of exaggerated statements. He trusts, that the time is very far distant, when the most important duty of the biographer,—that of detailing the private intercourse of the Christian and the author, and to present his character as a preacher and tutor-shall need to be performed.

A village, called Ugborough, near Modbury, in the county of Devon, gave birth to JOHN HARRIS, in the year 1804. To wealth or worldly honour his parents had no claim. They were, however, esteemed for their correct moral, and Christian deportment. The father of our

friend now resides in the metropolis of Great Britain to enjoy the filial gratitude of his honoured son, and to rejoice, as a father and a Christian, in his success and his popularity.

While he was young, John Harris removed with his parents to Bristol, and was admitted to the Sunday school connected with the Tabernacle in that city. At this period of his life, I have reason to know that his ready obedience, amiable manners, and cheerful sociability, secured for him the high esteem of all who knew him. Nor were indications wanted, even then, of that brilliant genius, and that determined labour in the acquirement of learning, for which he has since become eminently distinguished. His love of reading was far beyond the power of his means to supply, and his society was most highly valued by those who best knew him. I have heard Mr. Harris relate, in his own playful and interesting manner, an account of a visit once paid to the Sunday school by the distinguished Joseph Lancaster, known in both hemispheres as an eminent instructer of the young, who, with a happy instinct, singled him out as the first lad of the school. It happened at that time that a Mr. Bird, a popular lecturer on astronomy, who, we believe, still resides in the neighbourhood of Windsor, was then lecturing on his favourite science at Bristol; and Lancaster, by a note still in existence, introduced his little friend to the lecturer, as one who would greatly profit by an attendance on his instructions. The lectures to which he thus listened, opened to his mind worlds, and systems, and facts, which astonished and delighted him, and contributed in no small degree to expand his understanding, and increase his thirst after knowledge.

Having given evidence of the power of religion on his heart, and become connected with the Christian church in whose Sunday school he had been taught the doctrines of

the Saviour, he entered the College at Hoxton, to prepare for the duties of the Christian ministry, in the year 1823, when scarcely nineteen. Here his character became more fully developed, and those who were most fully qualified to form a judgment, predicted that he would attain to no small eminence among his compeers.

Having completed his preparatory studies at this "school of the prophets," in 1827, Mr. Harris became the pastor of a small church of Independents, or Congregationalists, at Epsom in Surry. Here, surrounded by an affectionate and increasing congregation, he cultivated his personal religion, and acquired large stores of general and scriptural learning. His mind, equally capacious and clear, is remarkable for its readiness in apprehending truth in all its aspects and connexions; while blessed with a retentive memory, he never seems for a moment to forget what he has once known.

Beyond a very limited circle around Epsom, Mr. Harris was scarcely known for eight or nine years after his ordination; but all this time the Great Head of the church was preparing him for his present extensive and successful labours. In this secluded situation he wrote the manuscript of his "Great Teacher," which, after several disappointments, he was enabled to present to the world. The writer of this sketch will always remember, with devout gratitude to God, that he was selected as the agent to introduce the author to an acquaintance with the public through the press. This work was silently, but certainly, making a deep impression on the public mind, when an event occurred which at once raised him to the pinnacle of fame.

About the time of the publication of "The Great Teacher," Dr. Conquest, a Christian physician in London, offered a prize of one hundred guineas for the best

essay against the Sin of Covetousness, constituting the Rev. Dr. J. P. Smith and the Hon. and Rev. Baptist Noel the adjudicators. Mr. Harris, after carefully surveying the subject, determined to become a competitor; and though nearly one hundred and fifty persons were candidates with him, to the delight, but not to the surprise, of his most intimate friends, he carried away the prize. Of this work, nearly forty thousand copies have been sold in Great Britain, and about the same number in the United States. Its influence on the Christian world is already known to have been great, in increasing the funds of benevolent institutions; but I apprehend that its most eminent usefulness has yet to appear; for I have been personally assured by a professional gentleman of undoubted veracity, that he can testify to its mighty influence on the authors of wills, involving property to an amount which, if stated, would scarce be credited.

Shortly after the publication of "Mammon," the committee of the British and Foreign Sailors' Society in London offered a prize for the best essay on the claims of seamen to the regard of the Christian world; when Mr. Harris again became the successful competitor, and published his work under the title of “ Britannia,” having first received from his late majesty, William IV., a beautiful letter, authorizing the dedication of the volume to his majesty. This admirable work has also been republished in the United States, under the altered title of "Zebulon."

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But we cannot now dilate, as we would, on his "Christian Citizen," his "Witnessing Church," his "Union," or the productions of his pen composing this volume; all these have combined with his previous labours to place him in the very first rank of theological authors. Nor has his eminence been at all lessened by the decision of Drs. Welsh, Wardlaw, and Bunting, and the Rev.

Messrs. Crisp and Melvill, that he was entitled to the prize of two hundred guineas for his essay on Christian Missions, published under the title of "The Great Commission."

The theological chair at Cheshunt College having become vacant by the decease of the Rev. W. Broadfoot, the trustees of that institution, in 1837, presented to Mr. Harris a most cordial and unanimous request to occupy it. He acceeded to their wishes, and entered on his duties in the early part of 1838. Over this institution may he long continue to preside with the ability and success which have hitherto distinguished his career. In June of that year he became united in marriage with Miss Wrangham, of Epsom, a connexion of the venerable archdeacon of that name. This lady, every way worthy of the high station she filled, and who was beloved by all to whom she was known, has since, with her venerated uncle, passed to another state of existence; and it will become the duty and privilege of the reader, before he lays aside this volume, to peruse a short but deeply affecting sketch of her removal and character, from the pen of her bereaved husband. In September of the same year the College of Amherst, in the United States, (the president of which, the Rev. Dr. Humphrey, had republished his "Great Teacher," with an able introduction,) conferred on Mr. Harris the degree of D.D.

As a preacher, no man in England is more popular than Dr. Harris. With a beautifully sweet and distinct voice, he unites a most attractive manner, and a style of delivery which commands general admiration, while the thoroughly evangelical character of his discourses makes them equally acceptable to believers in Jesus of every class. This is indeed evident from the fact that Christians of every denomination invite his services, and flock by thousands to the chapels where he preaches. The missionary societies